AIB League: Champions Shannon Back Up To Third

David Quinlan and Fionn McLoughlin scored second half tries at Crowley Park yesterday to send Shannon third in the AIB League Division One. On Saturday, both Cork Con and Dungannon earned home wins.

David Quinlan and Fionn McLoughlin scored second half tries at Crowley Park yesterday to send Shannon third in the AIB League Division One. On Saturday, both Cork Con and Dungannon earned home wins.

Mick Galwey's Shannon did not have it their own way as 'Wegians proved doughty opponents, against a side which beat them 34-9 over 12 months ago.

Having edged the first half 9-3, thanks to two penalties and a 19th minute drop goal from David Delaney, Shannon's defence lapsed on 55 minutes.

By that time Delaney had struck another neat drop, but Bernie Kelly's side kept in the hunt when number eight Scott Donald brilliantly charged down a Delaney clearance kick to beat John Lacey for the touch down.

Shannon regrouped at 12-10 in front, and almost immediately got in for their second try. Back row Quinlan sniped blindside off a scrum 30 metres out, and with Stephen Keogh ensuring second phase ball, scrum-half Fiach O'Loughlin recycled for Quinlan to sprint over.

Delaney and Cleary kicked two penalties each in the closing minutes before left wing McLoughlin scored on 78 minutes, collecting Delaney's clever chip through.

Up north, Jeremy Davidson's 'Gannon cooked up a Stevenson Park stew for Lansdowne, recording their second win of the season - 13-11 - with Ulster and Ireland wing Tyrone 'T Bone' Howe back in tow.

The 33-year-old beefed up the northerners' backline but it was inside centre skipper Paul Magee who did the damage - scoring the match-winning try on the hour, after the Dubliners had new back row recruit Christian Kos yellow carded.

Davidson hailed his side's tenacity, after they came back from 8-6 down at the break.

"It was a remarkable team performance and it will give us confidence going into the next few weeks," said the former Ireland lock.

"We played the right type of game in the conditions and our defence won the game for us. It was good to put a performance in for 80 minutes as I felt against UCD and Clontarf we had the upper hand for 60 minutes."

Lansdowne hooker Kevin Corrigan had earlier burrowed over following a turnover scrum on 5 minutes - for his second try in successive games.

Clontarf slumped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday, as young Cork Con winger Peter O'Brien - making his first AIL start - scored the only try in a 19-9 home win at Temple Hill.

'Tarf lost John Duffy and Simon O'Donnell to sin-binnings either side of half-time as their challenge waned.

A good start saw former UCD skipper Shane Moore drop a goal, but a searing Cronan Healy break paved the way for O'Brien to touch down on 14 minutes. Con took a 13-6 lead into the second half after Pat McCarthy had kicked two penalties and a conversion to Paul Ryan's sole effort on 34 minutes.

Ryan, filling in for the unavailable Dave McAllister at number 10, kicked a second on 50 minutes, but 13-9 was as close as it got as Barry Keeshan tagged on a penalty and drop goal to Con's tally, maintaining their record of just one defeat in their last ten home outings.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.